Hostelworld Press Room

Hostelworld.com, the leading provider of online reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market today announced that they have stepped up their UNICEF donations, doubling them for the next 4 weeks, to help aid those in dire need of assistance in a devastated Haiti. Hostelworld.com donations will be sent to UNICEF's Emergency Appeal for the Children of Haiti aiding UNICEF in their efforts to send life-saving supplies to those most affected.

Since 2004, Hostelworld.com has partnered with UNICEF to raise much-needed funds to help save children's lives. For every booking made on Hostelworld.com, a donation is made to UNICEF's work, helping children survive. Every moment of every day in over 150 countries around the world, UNICEF is on the ground providing lifesaving help for children in need and has saved more children's lives than any other organisation in the world.

To date hundreds of thousands of dollars has been raised by Hostelworld.com for UNICEF and last year alone over $235,000 was raised for the world's poorest children.

In light of the recent tragedy in Haiti, Hostelworld.com are doubling their UNICEF donations during this time of need. Hostelworld.com CEO Feargal Mooney commented, "We at Hostelworld.com, like everyone around the world, were shocked at the devastation caused by the earthquake that hit Haiti. In all disasters it is children that suffer immediately and most. Having worked with UNICEF for over 5 years we felt it was important to increase our efforts to help the children of Haiti at this critical time. We hope that our donation for Haiti will help to provide much needed assistance at a time when it is needed most."

UNICEF Ireland Executive Director Melanie Verwoerd said, "We estimate that over one million children have been affected by the recent earthquake in Haiti. UNICEF staff are working around the clock, to deliver life-saving aid. For those children who have lost everything, help cannot come soon enough and we are very grateful for the continuing support of Hostelworld.com for UNICEF's work. Every cent raised through this special appeal will be used to save and re-build children's lives in Haiti."

About Hostelworld.comThe global market leader for 10 years, Hostelworld.com is the leading provider of online reservations to the budget, independent and youth travel market. It offers confirmed online reservations for over 23,000 hostels and budget hotels in 186 countries worldwide. The site also offers budget travelers over 2.7 million user reviews, free travel videos, podcasts, customized city guides, a travel social network and more. Hostelworld.com is headquartered in Dublin and is fully owned and operated by Web Reservations International Ltd (WRI)

About UNICEFUNICEF has saved more children's lives than any other humanitarian organisation in the world. Working in over 150 countries, UNICEF provides children with health care, clean water, nutrition, education, emergency relief, and more. UNICEF Ireland supports UNICEF's work through fundraising, advocacy, and education in Ireland.
UNICEF is at the forefront of efforts to reduce child mortality worldwide. There has been substantial progress-the annual number of under-five deaths dropped from 13 million in 1990 to 8.8 million in 2008. But still, 24,000 children die each day from preventable causes. Our mission is to do whatever it takes to make that number zero by giving children the essentials for a safe and healthy childhood.
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For further information please contact Aisling White on aisling@hostelworld.com